‘And who stopped you?’ asked Priscilla.

‘Why Mr Brooke, of course.’

‘And what did Mr Brooke say to you?’ asked Dorothy.

Martha perceived at once that Dorothy was quite radiant.  She told her mistress that she had never seen Miss Dorothy look half so comely before.  ’Laws, ma’am, she brightened up and speckled about, till it did your heart good to see her in spite of all.’  But this was some time afterwards.

‘He didn’t say very much,’ replied Martha, gravely.  ’But I’ve got very much to tell you,’ continued Dorothy.  ’I’m engaged to be married to Mr Brooke, and you must congratulate me.  It is settled now, and mamma and my sister know all about it.’

Martha, when she was thus asked directly for congratulation, hardly knew at once how to express herself.  Being fully aware of Miss Stanbury’s objection to the marriage, she could not venture to express her approbation of it.  It was very improper, in Martha’s mind, that any young woman should have a follower, when the ‘missus’ didn’t approve of it.  She understood well enough that, in that matter of followers, privileges are allowed to young ladies which are not accorded to maid servants.  A young lady may do things, have young men to walk and talk with them, to dance with them and embrace them, and perhaps even more than this, when for half so much a young woman would be turned into the streets without a character.  Martha knew all this, and knew also that Miss Dorothy, though her mother lived in a very little cottage, was not altogether debarred, in the matter of followers, from the privileges of a lady.  But yet Miss Dorothy’s position was so very peculiar!

Look at that will or, rather, at that embryo will, which might be made any day, which now probably would be made, and which might affect them both so terribly!  People who have not got money should not fly in the face of those who have.  Such at least was Martha’s opinion very strongly.  How could she congratulate Miss Dorothy under the existing circumstances.  ‘I do hope you will be happy, miss, that you knows,’ said Martha, in her difficulty.  ‘And now, ma’am, miss, I mean,’ she added, correcting herself, in obedience to Miss Stanbury’s direct orders about the present ’missus has just sent me over with a bit of lamb, and a letter as is here in the basket, and to ask how you is and the other ladies.’

‘We are very much obliged,’ said Mrs Stanbury, who had not understood the point of Martha’s speech.

‘My sister is, I’m sure,’ said Priscilla, who had understood it.

Dorothy had taken the letter, and had gone aside with it, and was reading it very carefully.  It touched her nearly, and there had come tears into both her eyes, as she dwelt upon it.  There was something in her aunt’s allusion to the condition of unmarried women which came home to her especially.  She knew her aunt’s past history, and now she knew, or hoped that she knew, something of her own future